Online Workshop:  Pastoral Care within a Pandemic

Dates:  Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EST (Note: This online workshop is a two-part series).

Led by:  Dr. Rubén Arjona, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care, Union Presbyterian Seminary

Workshop Description:  Many faith and church leaders continue to search for ways to connect with their parishioners in virtual, although creative and meaningful, ways. Likewise, the pandemic itself has heightened pastoral care concerns in a variety of ways. This online workshop will address some of those concerns. Additionally, a portion of this workshop will be dedicated to allowing participants to voice their own concerns, with conversation facilitated around those concerns and time provided to reflect together on some pastoral care resources that might be helpful in the midst of the current crisis. Part of the purpose of this online workshop is to enable participants to explore current pastoral care concerns together within the context of a global pandemic.

Online Format: This two-session workshop will use Zoom technology to meet online in order to allow for presentations by the leader as well as full collegial engagement among participants. Workshop participants will also have opportunity to engage one another regarding pastoral care issues and concerns related to the pandemic that they find relevant or problematic. The sessions will meet on consecutive days, Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, 2020, from 1:00 until 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Participants will need an electronic device equipped with a reliable Internet connection, built-in or external microphone, and a built-in or external webcam.

Leader bio: Dr. Rubén Arjona is an ordained minister in the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. Before being appointed to the faculty of Union Presbyterian Seminary he served as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO.

Dr. Arjona’s research interests include the pastoral care of men, the intersections of pastoral care and liberation theologies, the care of couples and families, the care of LGBTQ+ individuals, and Erik H. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. One of his deepest passions is the care of theological students, which for him includes accompanying some of his former students in Mexico as well as mentoring international students pursuing theological studies in the United States.

Dr. Arjona has published several works in Spanish, including his undergraduate thesis on John Calvin’s missions to France, published by the Centro Basilea de Investigación y Apoyo under the auspices of the Fondation pour l’Aide au Protestantimse Réformé (FAP). More recently, Dr. Arjona has published several peer-reviewed articles in Pastoral Psychology and the Journal of Pastoral Theology.

Cost:  $40 per person, if register by September 9, 2020. (Note: Beginning, September 10, price increases by $10. Register early and save!).

Waiting List: Space is limited. Register early to reserve your spot. Once event reaches capacity, a waiting list will be started.

Registration: Online registration is open. Click here to REGISTER. Registered participants will receive a Zoom meeting link the week prior to the event’s first meeting. The same link will be used for each online meeting.